BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Bayern Munich kick off the Bundesliga season today at home against Hoffenheim with the spotlight on new coach Niko Kovac and whether he has what it takes to lead the club to a seventh straight league title.

“Tomorrow is D-Day — I’m convinced that my team will have a great day, technically and tactically,” Kovac said confidently in a press conference yesterday.

However, the 46-year-old ex-Bayern midfielder knows he is expected to maintain the club’s winning ways after Munich won the title by 21 points under predecessor Jupp Heynckes last season.

Kovac knows only satisfying Bayern’s relentless thirst for silverware after six straight seasons as German champions will safeguard his job.

“Those who hope that FC Bayern will relax will be disappointed,” boasted club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in pre-season.

“The gene that causes the feeling of being satisfied does not exist in our DNA.”

Hoffenheim, who make their Champions League debut this season after finishing third in the Bundesliga last season, and their 31-year-old head coach Julian Nagelsmann are the first hurdle.

Kovac’s main task is ensuring striker Robert Lewandowski, who hit 29 goals in 30 league games last season, feels settled after he said he wanted to leave in May.

Lewandowski blamed a lack of support from senior club bosses.

“Everybody needs affection, he may not have felt that lately, but what matters is that ‘Lewy’ feels fresh again,” said Kovac.

Likewise, ageing wingers Arjen Robben, 34, and Franck Ribery, 35, must be managed to ensure they are injury-free when titles are decided next April and May.

After being dumped out of last season’s Champions League in the semi-finals and losing the German Cup final 1-3 to Kovac’s former club Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern are eager to avoid similar disappointment in 2018/19.